broadly

American  

[brawd-lee] / ˈbrɔd li /

adverb

1. across a wide area.

   Seismologists say the earthquake was broadly felt because the hard granite in the area of the epicenter strongly conducts ground motion.

2. to a great extent; widely.

   Which of these principles and values do you think are the most broadly shared by your neighbors?

3. to a similar extent; generally.

   Production is expected to be broadly in line with last year’s, setting us up for another record harvest.

4. in a widely diffused or bright manner.

   The curtains opened, revealing several characters milling about on a broadly lit stage.

5. in a way that is not limited, narrow, or overly specific.

   Network-connected computers are broadly categorized as either servers or workstations.

6. in a plain, clear, or bold manner.

   She knew immediately that the broadly scrawled handwriting on the note was her brother’s.

   Most of the people in these photographs are grinning broadly and looking directly into the camera.

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Etymology

Origin of broadly

broad ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

The adverb broadly is useful for describing something that's done in a general or approximate way. If you're broadly describing your new job, you're giving just the basic idea of it and leaving out the details. You're likely to see the word broadly within the phrase "broadly speaking." People often say this to mean "in general" or "on average." The word can also be used in a more literal way to mean "widely," as when you say, "The teacher seemed a little scary until she smiled broadly and welcomed them to class."

Example Sentences

In the meantime, the focus has shifted to the strong backdrop for corporate earnings and the U.S. economy more broadly, said Scott Ladner, chief investment officer at Horizon Investments.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Although the study focused on university students, the insights likely apply more broadly.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Growth is expected to be weaker than previously projected, broadly in line with his predecessor’s outlook.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

McGill University president Deep Saini told the BBC that Indian students broadly fall into two camps.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

I carefully turn myself around so I’m facing the ship, and the captain grins broadly.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• commonly
• customarily
• largely
• mostly
• normally
• ordinarily
• publicly
• roughly
• typically
• universally
• usually
• widely